With the release of Avengers: Endgame later this year, we’re more than likely going to have to say goodbye to some of our beloved MCU characters for good. The film is also set to end the third phase of the superhero franchise, and we’ve already been promised a very different landscape for the future of the series.
So while some characters may be meeting their demise, we’re bound to get a whole new slate of heroes and villains to take their place. A handful of these new characters have already been confirmed thanks to the upcoming releases of Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home, among others. So let’s take a closer look at these iconic (and obscure) comic book characters who will soon appear in the MCU.
Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel is a mantel that has extended to various characters within the pages of Marvel (and even DC) Comics. But the incarnation that’s set to hit screens on March 8th of this year will be that of Carol Danvers. The superheroine will be portrayed by Academy Award-winner Brie Larson in the character’s feature film debut.
From everything we already know about Captain Marvel, she is expected to be the most powerful hero in the franchise to date. This is likely why Carol Danvers is already slated to appear in Avengers: Endgame, as the remaining heroes will need all the help they can get while trying to undo Thanos’s actions.
Yon-Rogg
The original Captain Marvel went by the name of Mar-Vell, a character who—until very recently—was expected to be portrayed by Jude Law in the upcoming film. However, thanks to a tie-in book for the movie, we now know that Law will actually be portraying the villain Yon-Rogg.
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Yon-Rogg is a member of the Kree race and a commanding officer in their military. In the comics, he is a common enemy of both Mar-Vell and Carol Danvers, whom Yon-Rogg is often jealous of. Yon-Rogg is also a threat to those living on Earth, as he is sent by the Kree to oversee the planet. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how these dynamics play out in the MCU.
The Skrulls
Thanks to their shapeshifting abilities, the introduction of the Skrulls could massively reshape the landscape of the MCU. The enemy race is set to debut in Captain Marvel, where the Kree-Skrull War will serve as the backdrop of the story.
In the comics, the Skrulls were created by the Celestials millions of years ago. They have wiped out a number of races and civilizations since while trying to shape the universe as they saw fit. Since the Skrulls can literally transform into anyone, many have already been speculating which MCU heroes and villains might have secretly been Skrulls this entire time.
Talos
With the Skrull army set to be the primary antagonist of Captain Marvel, it looks like the character of Talos the Untamed will serve as the face of the enemy forces. The character will be portrayed by Ben Mendelsohn, who has gained recognition in recent years thanks to his performances in Ready Player One and Rouge One: A Star Wars Story.
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Early details about Talos suggest that the Skrull commander will lead an attack on Earth by infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D. as an undercover agent. This should put the shapeshifter on a crash course with not only Captain Marvel, but Nick Fury as well.
Minn-Erva
Minn-Erva is yet another villainous character from the Marvel comics who is set to make her debut in Captain Marvel. She is one of the Kree, an elite member of Starforce, as well as a skilled geneticist who goes by the alias Doctor Minerva.
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The character will be played by actress Gemma Chan (Humans, Crazy Rich Asians), who has already confirmed that Minn-Erva will indeed be up to her evil ways in the MCU. This might seem like a villain overload for Captain Marvel. But with Carol Danvers’ powers being what they are, it only makes sense that she will be facing off against multiple threats in the movie.
Mysterio
One of Spider-Man’s most formidable foes in the comics, Mysterio will make his big screen debut in the forthcoming Spider-Man: Far From Home. Like so many Marvel characters, Mysterio is a mantel that has been taken up by various individuals. But this incarnation will focus on the most prominent: stuntman and special effects mastermind Quentin Beck.
Jake Gyllenhaal will play Beck in the film. But from early looks and hints dropped by the cast, it doesn’t look like Mysterio will be a cut and dry villain, as the Elementals are also slated to appear. Or maybe we’re simply being deceived — which is ultimately Beck’s area of expertise.
The Elementals
With Mysterio long thought to be the primary villain of the upcoming Spider-Man: Far From Home, many were surprised to see these rather obscure Marvel characters make an appearance in the movie’s first trailer. There are four Elementals in the comics: Hydron, Magnum, Hellfire, and Zephyr – who each have control over the elements of water, earth, fire, and wind, respectfully.
After the trailer debuted, Tom Holland stated that instead of Spider-Man facing off against Mysterio, the two would actually be teaming up to take on these four inter-dimensional beings. Of course, Holland has been known to misdirect fans before, so how the Elementals could fit into the grand scheme of the MCU remains to be seen.
The Eternals
Not much is known about the future of the MCU beyond their 2019 lineup. While franchises like Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and Guardians of the Galaxy are all expected to get sequels, that doesn’t give us any concrete information about the new characters that will appear in those films. However, we now know that The Eternals is set to beginning filming in August of this year — which could put it on track for a 2020 release.
The Eternals are a super-species of ancient humans who were created by the Celestials millions of years ago, and the Eternal characters of Ikaris and Sersi are expected to serve as the focal point of the film.
